Tools

Categories

News Flash

Village of Villa Park News

Posted on: December 18, 2017

Villa Park Police announces 24/7 opioid misuse helpline

The Villa Park Police Department has announced the establishment of the Illinois Helpline for Opioids and Other Substances at 1-833-2FINDHELP. Created by the Illinois Department of Human Services (Division of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse), the Helpline is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week for individuals experiencing opioid use disorders, families, and anyone affected by the disease.

Dialing 1-833-2FINDHELP is confidential and free. Helpline specialists are trained in evidence-based approaches to help connect callers with treatment services and recovery support services.

Created by the State of Illinois Opioid Task Force, the goals of the Helpline are to:

Provide individuals and families with information and timely access to opioid use disorder (OUD) behavioral health treatment, rehabilitation and recovery support services.

Provide individuals and families with information and referral to a comprehensive range of OUD services and resources available to meet their needs.

Assist callers with eligibility and insurance enrollment resources.

Offer outreach and engagement to assist in connecting callers to care, when possible.

Provide OUD behavioral health crisis intervention services.

The overall goal of the task force is to reduce opioid overdose deaths in Illinois by one-third within the next three years. Illinois Department of Public Health data show that in 2016, opioid overdoses killed 1,946 people in Illinois – more than one and a half times the number of homicides and nearly twice the number of fatal motor vehicle accidents. In addition, data from the Illinois Department of Human Services estimates that approximately 248,000 Illinois residents need, but do not receive treatment, for illicit drug use. Concerned that stigma is preventing individuals from coming forward and asking for help.